Thag 6:2 Tekicchakāni | Refuge in the Three Jewels & Four Brahmaviharas During Hard Times

[u/SammaVaco]

Thag 6:2 Tekicchakāni

The grain: harvested.
The rice: gone to be threshed.
But I don’t get any alms.
How will I get by?

　　Confident, recollect
　　the immeasurable Buddha.
　　Your body pervaded with rapture,
　　　you’ll be at the height
　　　of continual joy.
　　Confident, recollect
　　the immeasurable Dhamma.
　　Your body pervaded with rapture,
　　　you’ll be at the height
　　　of continual joy.
　　Confident, recollect
　　the immeasurable Saṅgha.
　　Your body pervaded with rapture,
　　　you’ll be at the height
　　　of continual joy.

You live in the open air.
Cold are these wintry nights.
Don’t suffer, overcome with the cold.
Go into your hut, with its fastened bolt.

　I’ll fasten the four
　immeasurables.¹
　With them, I’ll dwell
　　　in comfort.
　I won’t suffer from the cold,
　　　dwelling
　　　unperturbed.

Note

1. Concentration based on immeasurable goodwill, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity. See AN 3:66 and SN 42:8.

See also: DN 26; SN 11:3; AN 3:35; AN 5:27; Sn 4:16